At the International School of Florence, every student’s journey matters. Our students are known as individuals, supported with care and challenged to achieve their personal best. Our new Vision, “Engaging together to explore and grow in our complex world,” and our Mission, “Learning for our Shared Future,” reflect the heart of an ISF education: academic ambition, personal growth, international mindedness and purposeful learning.
What makes ISF distinctive is the combination of strong academic outcomes, individual care, global pathways and the extraordinary experience of learning in Florence. As one of the world’s most culturally rich and historically significant cities, Florence is not simply where our school is located; it is part of how our students learn. Surrounded by art, architecture, history, language, design, innovation and culture, students experience learning that extends beyond the classroom into museums, galleries, local communities, service opportunities and real-world contexts.
This year’s IB Diploma results and university offers are a powerful reflection of that learning journey.
ISF: strong results, global pathways and the Florence advantage
Our IB Diploma students achieved excellent results, including a 96% pass rate, an average score of 33 points, and highest scores of 44 out of 45. These results sit above reported global averages, with the May 2026 global average Diploma score reported at 30.88 points.
A particularly strong feature of this year’s results was the number of students achieving at the highest levels of the Diploma. 13% of ISF students achieved 40 points or above, placing them among high-achieving IB Diploma candidates internationally. In addition, 33% of students scored 34 points or above, demonstrating strong performance across the cohort and the depth of achievement across a broad group of learners.
We are also proud that 31% of students achieved Bilingual Diplomas, reflecting the multilingual and internationally minded nature of our school community. This is a powerful symbol of the language skills, cultural understanding and global competence that are central to an ISF education.
Reflecting on this year’s achievements, Mrs Sharyn Baddeley, Head of School, said:
“This cohort has been a very special group of young people. They have shown resilience, ambition, kindness and a genuine commitment to their learning. What makes me most proud is not only the strength of their results, but the way they have grown as individuals and supported one another along the way. These outcomes reflect the close partnership between students, families and our exceptional staff, who know our students well and care deeply about both their learning and their wellbeing. ISF is a close and connected community, and this year’s results are a celebration of that shared commitment.”
University offers across 10 countries
The strength of our students’ learning is also reflected in their next steps. ISF students received university offers across 10 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and Greece.
These pathways show the breadth of opportunity available to ISF graduates. Our students are not limited to one system, one country or one future. They are prepared to step confidently into universities around the world, pursuing courses in business, economics, engineering, design, the arts, sciences, humanities, international relations, hospitality, technology and liberal arts.
This year, ISF students received offers from highly regarded institutions including University of Cambridge, University College London, London School of Economics and Political Science, King’s College London, University of Edinburgh, University of St Andrews, New York University, University of Michigan, Boston University, Northeastern University, Purdue University, University of California San Diego, Bocconi University, Politecnico di Milano, University of Amsterdam, Leiden University, University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, ESCP Business School, IE University and EHL Hospitality Business School.
These offers represent more than university admissions. They represent student futures. Behind each offer is a young person who has been guided, challenged and supported to find the university, course and environment where they can thrive.
The ISF difference
What makes these outcomes especially meaningful is the individual care behind each pathway. ISF is a school where students are known well by their teachers, counsellors and university advisor. We help students understand who they are, what they value, where their strengths lie and what kind of future they want to build.
Families choose ISF because we combine academic ambition with belonging. Students are challenged to aim high, but they are also supported to develop confidence, wellbeing, independence and character. Our staff are central to this experience. They bring expertise, care and commitment to every classroom, every conversation and every student pathway.
An ISF education prepares students not only for examinations, but for life. Through the IB programmes and through the experience of learning in Florence, students develop the skills, values and perspectives needed to contribute to a changing world.
This is why ISF stands apart: a school where students are known, supported and challenged; where learning is connected to the world; and where young people are prepared to explore, grow and contribute to our shared future.
